No games in front of Pitt, so barring a power outage the game should start on time.

1:40 pm on TBS.

I’m either DVR delayed or secretly watching the game at a bar while technically at work. Either way, that means you won’t be hearing much from me.

I do expect a close one. I wish the Buffs was more hateable. I like Colorado and their coach, Tad Boyle. He’s done an amazing job at a place where there has been even less historical success than at Pitt. This is the first time they have ever made the NCAA Tournament three straight years. It was 50 years ago from the last time they went in consecutive years.

The issue for Colorado is offensive efficiency. They turn the ball over a good deal. For Pitt, it usually comes down to the shooting. Not just from outside but are the shots going when they get close to the basket.

And I know it’s cliche, but I literally think you could have found a bunch of <35 guys in the stands that would have played a better 1st half for Colorado. Exactly what do you say as a coach at halftime… down 30?

Wardapalooza, yes…I think if we can actually somehow make it to the sweet 16 this year, then it will be the year of the Miracle at Little John. The turning point! For a team looking really deep in the dumps for the 3 weeks before that.

Hoping that Randall just had a bloody nose. Need those back-up minutes for Zanna. Uchebo not ready to face the likes of Fla. And I know he’s had major knee issues, but I can’t fathom how Uchebo’s legs could be so scraggly.

The TV announcers repeatedly metioned the biggest lead ever – I’m thinking that Hillgrove meant the biggest halftime lead ever FOR PITT…what a display, even though Patterson’s shot had one of its off days he didn’t have his careless turnovers and had some great passes.

Harvard looking good, maybe Albany can pull off a miracle…hopefully we can make Florida pay for their press. Go Pitt!

I predicted this blowout. With Colorado an eight seed and Pitt a nine, I knew Pitt’s had something to prove and was pi$$ed about given no respect. I content both Pitt and Colorado were seeded improperly. Now, Pitt can turn everyone’s pool upside down. Hail to Pitt!

I work in downtown Orlando (I look at the arena from my office) and had tickets to the game but couldn’t get out of work obligations, which really, really sucked!

I did watch the majority of the game from my computer and…wow! Pitt was certainly clicking on all cylinders. I’m ecstatic about the win, and an added bonus was that we got to keep the starters minutes down and the reserves got some good pt. You never know when we may need someone likes Jones.

I’m sure Florida will run away from Albany eventually. They will press and we will have to be ready for it.

Now that Zanna is healthy and has found his groove this team has the potential to be a complete team capable of playing high caliber basketball as in one of the top ten teams in the nation. Virginia is a final four team and if not for a gutless non call Pitt VA goes overtime. Pitt wasn’t the team it is now and played the then #1 team to what should have been a win in Pittsburgh. It’s an injustice to the sport that one of the top ten teams through politically influenced seeding is required to play another top ten team in the round of 32.

Everything we’ve done this season has been leading up to this FL game. We have to try to stay ahead of them, if so we can win.

Pitt is feeling it’s MOJO as of late and I expect that they’ll come to play tomorrow. I expect another ACC Tourney Wake Forest type result.
And they’re going to need all the MOJO they got for the Gators.
Comment by Dr. Tom 03.19.14 @ 1:15 pm

Well, that worked out just about the way I figured it. Let’s hope they can keep all the Mo in their Jo come Saturday when the really heavy lifting begins.

For a NCCA tournament game JD and the team looked ready, relaxed in a business like sort of way. I’ve seen them very uptight in these conditions before, but not today. In the past I think they had to overcome their jitters & anxiety first and then overcome the opponent. Not today. If they play with this poise and resolve and the basketball lords of karma start to even the score we can beat FL.

Stay loose Panthers, Saturday you have nothing to lose against the best squad in the Nation and EVERYTHING TO WIN! No pressure. Play like it’s a pick up game in the park on Saturday.

This Panther squad has come up short but ever so close in all of their games against the elite competition this season. Could Saturday be the day that David nails Goliath????
Gouge the Gators, Hail to Pitt!!

Looked at Colorado’s blog and they all really handled the loss well, most were just happy to be in the tournament. They acknowledged they weren’t the better team, but also acknowledged they played a terrible game, but are looking forward to next year. People from this blog should take some advice from them about how to handle losing lol.

On the other hand the florida people are not happy with how their team played at all today, and not happy with how they have been playing recently. While some of them are concerned about PITT, the majority seem to think PITT is the same type team as FLA, just without the ability to shoot the 3. So they are confident they’ll just pack it in the middle and make pitt try to shoot from outside and take the W.

I’m guessing game time will be after 5:00 on Saturday.. the past few years they’ve only had one game on CBS for the first two games and I’m betting those will be the Buffalo games since Raferty and Lunquist are at that site. I’m hoping I’m wrong since plans Saturday night right now.

If your Florida you can’t be happy about playing Pitt in 2nd round….If your 1 overall seed you should only have to play at worst 32 ranked team in second game…Pitt is playing like a top ten team right now.

National media now saying what a tough task Florida will have to get to Sweet 16….If would of read this blog they would of known that on Sunday when the brackets came out…that’s what most on this blog were saying then.

Milobloom, I still feel way Pitt was playing in the ACC tournament, that Pitt should have a 6 seed. I found myself rooting for Albany to pull the upset. They actually were staying with Florida until their point guard got kneed in the head and was out of the game. That’s when Florida started to distance themselves. I just hope Pitt plays well on Saturday. There are not tomorrows if they lose.

That was a real nice win for the Pitt Team today. Come out strong and keep the pressure on. So does Pitt attack the full court pressure? Yes, absolutely. Does anyone feel differently?

We might actually get their big guys in foul trouble if that would occur. Could come down to foul shots. Felt bad for ncstate tonight. Terrible foul shooting cost them the game. Let’s go Pitt. Carpe’ Gators!

Pitt played well and dominated the Buffs as I anticipated that they would, however I don’t agree with those that said the Panthers “never played better”. The defense was smothering but we missed waaay too many bunnies in the opening minutes.

The best game that I witnessed the Panthers play this season was their 1st win against Clemson. It seemed like everything was going in for the Panthers in that game!

If they had been finishing the shots on so many of those fast breaks and take aways yesterday they could have been up by 36 or so at the half. That was actually how dominant Pitt was on defense! So there is STILL room for improvement and it will probably be needed tomorrow against Florida to pull off the win.

This team is peaking at the perfect time however. The Panthers confidence has to be sky high right now after that ass whoopin they put on Colorado.

My suggestion for Dixon tonight is to take our boys out for a nice relaxing dinner at some Cajun restaurant and order a round of gator bites appitizers for all so that they get a taste for gator meat in preparation for tomorrow, because tomorrow Pitt shocks the World MFers!!!